Across the country, home brewing and craft beer have exploded as favorite pastimes and popular hobbies, and West Virginia is no exception. From mouthwatering food to art, music and entertainment, experience the diverse craft beer community or the elegance of a crisp glass of homegrown wine at these upcoming fairs and festivals.
37th Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival
September 4-6 • Clarksburg
www.wvihf.com
During the first West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival (WVIHF) in 1979, the wine flowed, tantalizing arrays of delectable food abounded and the music was fast-paced, and that continues today. Set in downtown Clarksburg, the WVIHF has been rated among the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association and has been included in the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events. The three-day festival brings more than 100,000 visitors to Clarksburg each year, and the 37th annual event is sure to be the biggest one yet.
This family-friendly celebration boasts authentic Italian cuisine; a children’s stage with clowns, magicians and games; big-name entertainers like past performers Tony Danza, Kathy Mattea, Jo Dee Messina and Frankie Avalon; awards and scholarships. Every year WVIHF honors outstanding citizens with a ceremony at the festival. This year’s honorees include Italian-American Man of the Year Major General James Hoyer and Italian-American Woman of the Year Dr. Joy Faini Saab.
24th Annual Kirkwood Winery Grape Stompin’ Festival
September 19-20 • Summersville
www.kirkwood-wine.com
The Kirkwood Winery has been hosting its annual Grape Stompin’ Festival since its inception in 1992. Striving to maintain a strong family atmosphere and preserve Appalachian history and culture, the goal of the festival remains the same: to demonstrate the best talent in the Mountain State, from a variety of wines to art displays and live music.
Enjoy horse and buggy rides, great food, face painting, handmade crafts, dancing and live music by headliners like the Davisson Brothers Band, The Band Wagon, the Eddie Davisson Band and the Mountain Rhythm Cloggers. Guests will receive a free wine glass with admission as well as access to great food like the hog roast that will take place on Sunday. The highlights of the event will be the Grape Eating and Grape Stomping contests, followed by the complimentary wine tasting. Sponsored by the Southern West Virginia and Summersville convention and visitors bureaus, it is sure to be a classic.
West Virginia Wine & Jazz Festival
September 19-20 • Morgantown
www.wvwineandjazz.com
The West Virginia Wine & Jazz Festival offers access to some of the finest wines in the Mountain State. For $20 per person, guests receive a specialty wine glass and a variety of tasting options from wineries all over the state and region. Along with live music and food from many of Morgantown’s chicest restaurants, the festival is also a great way to give back to the community.
West Virginia Wine & Jazz Fest, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that donates the proceeds from this annual event back to the community. Past donations have funded endowed scholarships to the West Virginia University School of Music, free concerts for local middle and high schools and sponsorships of many other university and community organizations.
40th Annual Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival
September 25-27 • Charles Town
www.jeffersoncountywvchamber.org
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will present the 40th Annual Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival in September. Billed as a leisurely stroll in the rolling countryside of Jefferson County, guests are invited to admire and sample the showcase of crafts, fine arts and wines.
Approximately 200 local artisans and crafters are carefully selected and prejudged by a jury to demonstrate their work at the nationally acclaimed festival. Shop homemade baskets, bath and body products, candles, arts, furniture, jewelry, pottery, quilts and more to the soundtrack of live performances by bluegrass groups such as Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, The Hillbilly Gypsies, Patent Pending and Circa Blue. Admission includes the opportunity for guests to taste wines from the area’s foremost wineries and tour the wine garden to purchase their favorite selections.
79th Mountain State Forest Festival
September 26-October 4 • Elkins
www.forestfestival.com
Billed as the largest and oldest festival in West Virginia, the annual Mountain State Forest Festival seeks to promote the beauty and splendor of the mountains in autumn and the development, conservation and culture of natural resources. The theme of the 2015 festival is Spark the Senses, and the lineup for this event will truly do just that for all in attendance. From live music, a lumberjack competition, forestry and wood work exhibits and the juried art show to the photography contest, quilt show, arts and crafts, amusement rides and a parade, this festival has events and activities that span several weeks with something for everyone.
Before seeing Lonestar in concert or participating in the bass fishing classic, 10K run/walk, chicken wing cook-off or pet show, get the party started early with the festival’s inaugural Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, September 5. For the first time in its history, the Mountain State Forest Festival will host every brewery in the entire state, and guests will have the opportunity to sample the best beer West Virginia has to offer.
20th Annual Bramwell Oktoberfest
October 10 • Bramwell
www.bramwelloktoberfest.com
Renowned for its traditional folk, blues, bluegrass and alternative live music performances, the Bramwell Oktoberfest has been celebrating premier beer in West Virginia for 20 years. Bramwell, often referred to as the Home of the Millionaires, is located along the Bluestone River near Bluefield and Pinnacle Rock State Forest. A historic Victorian town, it is a great place to kick back and enjoy the splendor of premium beer and classic West Virginia beauty. Recognized by the American Homebrewers Association, Oktoberfest is first and foremost a place for amateur brewers to put their products to the test. Brewers can enter the official brew competition from now until October 2—no experience necessary.
West Side Main Street OktoberWest
October 10 • Charleston
www.westsidemainstreet.org
A collaboration between the West Side Neighborhood Association, West Virginia State University and the City of Charleston, OktoberWest began as an attempt to reinvigorate the economy on Charleston’s West Side by promoting its historic commercial district.
While Charleston Main Streets West Side hosts a variety of events, OktoberWest remains the organization’s largest fundraiser each year. A fun version of the popular Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, this family-friendly environment offers activities for all ages, including a children’s section with arts and crafts, a space specifically for Mountaineer football fans to keep tabs on the game, a corn hole tournament, live entertainment and, of course, a great selection of craft brews! Tickets to the event include unlimited brats, sauerkraut and domestic beers. Tickets for craft brews will be available as well as local food vendors for those who are looking for something more traditional. Past brewery vendors have included the Charleston Brewing Company, Mountain State Brewing Company, North End Tavern and Brewery, Bridge Brew Works and Capitol Beverage Company. Proceeds from the event fund the organization’s programmatic works, which include public space improvements, public art and façade grants.
10th Annual Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival
December 12 • Fairmont
www.mainstreetfairmont.org
The Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival in Fairmont has unique origins. What started as a graphic novel written by a Marion County resident about his experiences celebrating the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes with his family every Christmas is now an annual festival that celebrates heritage and tradition. The event boasts live music, cooking demonstrations and local vendors. The event planners take special care to make guests feel they are experiencing an authentic Italian Christmas Eve. With an evening filled with food, shopping, music, cooking and wine, guests will feel themselves slipping away to a different place.
Experience the Italian tradition of a meatless holiday meal with a step-by-step demonstration on how to make authentic, gourmet seafood, sides and desserts like fried smelt, calamari, pastries and breads. Participants have the opportunity to show off their own culinary skills with the homemade wine and homemade cookie contests.
